Game apparatus



T. GREEN GAME} APPARATUS May 26, 1925.

Filed April 17, 1924 3 sheets sheeh l End L'me, LED feef-'"- END ZONE.

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T. GREEN GAME APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1924 3 Sheets -Sheet 2 Invenhar:

' Patented May 26, 1925.-

UNITED STATES THOMAS GREEN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed April 17, 1924. Serial 1T0. 707.215.

T 0 all w 120m it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates articularly to apparatus adapted to be used for playing a game in imitation of a real football game played in the usual manner on a football field.

The object of the invention is to produce such an apparatus suited to the playing of such an imitation game on lines closely related to the performances in actual football games played by leading football teams.

In my .improved apparatus provision is made for conducting the imitation game with reference to the average of results of various pla s in actual games between leading footbal teams.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of a structure bearing a diagram of the football field now in general use for the playin of actual football games; Fig. 2 is an en elevation of the structure shown by Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a circular disc ada ted to bear a diagram indicating various p ays, also a pointer adapted-to be brought into relation with symbols and legends on the diagram;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the structure shown by Fig. 3, a part being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the pointer clamp detache'd from the supporting bar;

Fig. 6 is an upright section on the line, 6-6, of-Figs. 3 and 4, looking in the direction of the arrow; 7

Fig. 7 is a diagram to be placcdon the disc of F1g.3;

Fig. 8 is a schedule of symbol abbreviations.

In the diagram of Fig. 1, A. A are the side lines. B, B are the goal lines. C, O are the end lines. D, D arethe 20 yard lines which connect the side lines, A, A. E, E

are minor lines which are parallel to the major cross lines and are spaced 5 yards from each other. These transverse lines are numbered serially from each goal line, G, to

the other goal line, the intervals being in goal, G.

The imitation game to be played with my apparatus treats this field in all respects as the football field is treated in actual playing of football.

This diagram is placed on any suitable base, F, adapted for the insertion of pins or other markers along the side lines in holes 1 yard apart to indicate the positions at the time of the ball.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, H is a base, preferably horizontal. H is a disc placed'parallel to the base, H, and mounted for rotation on the axis of the disc. H is an axle extending through the disc on the axial line of the disc. The lower end of said axle is conical and rests in a bearing, H. The upper end of said axle is conical and rests in a bearing formed in the lower end of a ,bearin screw, H, threaded into the 'supporting ar, H", which extends across the disc and has feet, H, secured to the base, H. Thus the disc is held for easy rotation in the bearings, H and H. On the periphery of the disc are lugs ortongues, H, adapted to be engaged by the hand of either player for spinning the disc on its axis. 7

On the supporting bar, H, is an adjustable pointer, I, whlch extends downward nearly to the upper face of the disc, H Said pointer is supported rigidly on a clamp comprising horizontal jaws, I and a blade s ring, I. One of said jaws bears against t e lower face of the su porting bar. The other of said jaws exten s acrossthe u per face of the supporting bar and is 1gb enough above said bar to allow the insertion of the blade spring, I, the blade spring being curved upward between its ends and bearing against the lower face of the upperjaw and having its ends bearing against the upper face of the supporting bar. By this means, the tionally on t e sup orting bar and ma be moved by either p ayer toward and om the disc axle, H. v v 1 On the disc are circles, J, concentric to the disc axis and spaced approximately even.

Between these circles are ring-form zones,

J each relating to a different play.

The inner and the outer circular lines, J, are joined by radial lines, J, which are spaced from each other approximately evenly, whereby the ring-form zones, J, are divided into ap roxlmately rectangular sec ointer structure is held frictions or fields a apted to receive symbols or indicia relating to the game. On each section between two adjacent radial lines, J", is indicated, by words, ors mbols a course or step which may be un ertaken by the side in possession of the ball. Thus all the sections of each zone relate to the step thus noted in one of the sectionsof that zone.

but one of the first zone bear In the second zone all the sections, excepting one, bearnumbers and two have both numbers and symbols indicating values or situations. Those three bear words or numbers relating to puntingand field goal attempting and kick off.

' In the third zone, all the sections other than'the section Intercepted line of scrimmage, contain two numbers indicating or expressing values the two numbers in each section being divided by a diagonal line.

On each of these st ctions, the larger num-- her is even and the smaller number is onehalf, of the larger number. The larger numbers are made even, in order that one half thereof will be a whole number and not a fraction, as described further on.

In the fourth or outer zone, five of the sections .bear the words, No gain. The

other sections, excepting three, of that zone bear two different numbers, separated by diagonal lines, as. above described regarding the third zone. In'one of those three sections appears Minus P. In another of said sections appears Plus 5P. In another appears Fumble.

The values for this game are taken from the actual performances of such representative teams as the UnitedStates Naval Academy, United States Military Academy,

Yale, Harvard, Princeton. etc. It is balanced in all departments. Therefore it produces excellent modern football. Both sides take the field with the same possibilities.

Hence a premium is placed upon careful attack,

In playing my game, the National Colle'giate Athletic Association football rules apply, except as to some details. W

he players agree upon time of halves.

No change of goals is made at quarter time, or at the beginning of the second half as no advantage would accrue to either side. After timeof halves has been agreed to, toss coin, winning side has'option of kicking off or receiving the kick off from/opponent. The'side which does not get this option at the beginning of the game. does get it at the beginning of the second half.

The side which is to ,kick, off moves the pointer into the appropriate zone (in this case the second) and puts the ball on the 50 yard line and spins the dial and reads the kick ofi value indicated in the second receiving side starts First down 10 yards to go. Now the offensive side-must advance the ball 10 yards or more in four or aless number of attempts to retain the ball. As soon as the required distance of 10 yards or more is made, even if on less than four attempts, a new First down 10 yards to go is started and no credit is carried over. The attempts may take the form of Running play, Forward pass, Punt or Field goal attempt. announced by the player before thesp'in is made. The result in each case is ascertained by .a dial reading given in the appropriate zone.

Drop kicks (also place kicks) summed up in the general term, Field goals, are made The form chosen must be as indicated in the following table: (they fall short or result in touchbacks as shown by punt values in second zone on dial).

Field goal table.

Field goal made by,following values in second zoneand counts Ball passed back by center from' 3 points.

Punt value 20, 25. or 30. Punt value or 25. Punt value only. Punt value only. Punt value only. Punt value only.

If offensive side fails at any time to make the necessary 10 ards in four attempts, the ball changes hands after gain or loss if any on fourth attempt has been ap lied. The defensive side then becomes offensive and starts First down 10 to go.

When Fumble of run. (fourth zone)- Run back of kick off, (first zone) Run back of punt or field goal attempt, (fourth zone occurs, the decision as to which side ets the ball is made in the fourth zone.

k pin the dial and note the reading on the section which stops under the pointer. If

one of the sections bearing No gain stops under the pointer. there is no gain, and the sidewhich had the ball before the fumble retains it. If any section bearing a minus number, except minus 5P which with plus 5P is not allowed to make decisions, stops according to section values.

under the pointer, the side which had the ball retains-it and moves it back according to the number in that section. The distance through which the ball is to be moved backward depends upon the position of the ball on the field. If the ball is not within the defensive yard line in possession of the offensive side, the ball is moved back according to the larger figure. For instance, if the section contains the number minus 6 and minus 3, the ball is moved back 6 yards. But, if during such play the ball is within the defensive 20 yard line in possession of the offensive side, then the ball is to be moved back according to the smaller number in the sectionwhich stops under the pointer. In other words, if the ball is within the defensive 20 yard line in possession of the ofiensive side, the value is tobe reduced. For the sake of convenient reduction and, with that in view, avoiding fractions, I have arbitrarily chosen larger numbers which are even. and which can be divided by two to make an entire and not a fractional number.

If any plus section, including the one bearing Plus 2 plus 1, which gives the ball to the side which had it when fumble was made stops under the pointer, the ball is to be advanced instead of carried back, but the I ball'goes to the side which did not make the fumble if Plus 4 plus 2 section or larger section comes up. In other words, the ball changes side or remains with the same side The distance through which the ball is advanced depends upon the position on the field. If the ball is on the defensive 20 yard line or a greater distance from the defensive goal line and the decision is in favor of the defensive side, then the ball is moved the number of yards corresponding to the larger number in the sector. But if the ball is on the defensive 19 yard line mat a less distance from the defensive goal line, then the smaller of the two numbers is used for advancing or reversing the ball, if the decision is in favor of the side attacking that goal. a

When blocked punt or blocked field-z goal attempt appears under the pointer, second zone, the decision is made in a similar manner in the fourth zone, except that the kick- 1 zone) or forward pass (third zone) on or.

ing side must get No gain or less to retain ball.

After all decisions on fumbles and blocks,

the side which receives the ball starts First down 10 ,to go.

A touchdown scores six points for the offensive side and is made by offensive side forcing the ball by running play (fourth field provide that the ball be placed at not less than three yards from the oal of the side scored upon and a scoring p ay must be made by the side which made the touchdown.

This scoring play must be made in one attempt to get the additional point. The attempt is almost invariably made by the Field goal method as the chance of success is much greater. This holds for my game. So for try for point after touchdown please refer to the first line of the above Field goal table. However the attempt for point after touchdown may be made by Running play or Forward pass as on the actual field of play.

- A field goal (except after touchdown as mentioned above) is made by either a drop kick or place kick. and scores three points for the offensive side. It is made, blocked, falls short, or goes over defensive goal line for touchback from various distances as in'-' dicated in the Field goal table and bypunt valuesin the second zone of the dial.

After score is made by either a touchdown (with or without additional point) or by field goal, the side scored upon has the option of kicking off to or receiving the kickoff from the opponent and the game is immediately resumed.

A safety scores two points for the side not in possession of the ball at the time. It consists in the side having the ball being thrown back on or behind its own goal line with the ball in its own possession. It scores against the side thrown back. The

side scored upon puts the ball onits own thirty yard line and starts offensive First down 10 to go. A safety may occur by a fumble Running play and recovery, by a loss on a Running play or run back of punt or field goal attempt which falls short of the goal line or by a blocked Punt and recovery, any one of which throws the-side with the ball on or behind its own goal line.

A touchback is not a scoring occurrence. It consists in offensive side pun'ting, drop (or place) kicking, (second zone) or forward passing (incomplete) (third zone) on or behindthe defensive goal line. In case of touchback, the side which was defensive at the time, becomes offensive, places the ball on its own twenty yard line and starts First down 10 to go.

The following rules for the forward pass apply to this game when ofi'ensive is near defensive goal line. They simulate very closely the happenings on the actual field of play. A forward pass which comes up complete on the defensive goal line, in the defensive end zone, or on the defensive end line is a touchdown for the offensive side.

llC

A forward pass coming up incomplete under the same conditions also beyond theldefensive end line is a touchback which we have just described. A forward pass coming up intercepted under the same conditions is considered to have been batted to the ground for an Incomplete 'by the defensive side and results in a touchba'ck. A forward pass which comes up complete beyond the defensive end line is a touch-back. A forward pass coming up intercepted on the defensive one yard 'line or farther up field from the defensive goal line maybe run back by the side which made the interception or it may be considered that the ball was Batted.

to the ground by the defensive side for a loss of a down to the offensive side, just ,as though the pass were incomplete. If this should happen on fourth down and the defensive side declare what was apparently an Intercept to be an Incomplete, the ball would change hands from where it was put in play. This leaves it to the judgment of the defensive side as to whether the Intercept? should be taken and run back or the ball declared Batted to the ground for an Incomplete.

plate which by itself makes a touchdown, or produces a touchback.

Runs for both the run forwards and the run backs of forward passes are indicated in the fourth zone by arrows so that every other Running play value is used for this purpose.- The values for the pass and passrun are to-be taken as two separate'parts of the same down and each.must' comply with half values in reference to the defensive 20 yard line.

It must be carefull borne in mind that the half values apply on y to offensive as regards-othird and fourth dialzones and only when offensive is inside of defensive'20 yard line. The plus 5 and the minus 5;) are never affected by half values and are not allowed to make decisions. Values for run back of punts'or run back ofattempts at field goal,

which in either case fall short of the goal line, i. e., on one yard line or at a greater distance up field from the goal line, are ob tained from all sections in'the fourth zone.

They are subject to fumble and decision-as on a play. A fair catch may be called for I on reception of any such'punt or attempt'at field goal. The result of a fair catch is ob- 'tained in this way: Spin and. if value other than fumble comes u in the fourth zone, the ball is not moved 1n accordance withthe value. However if sector marked Fumble neeaeea in fourth zones comes up it is decided as a fumbled play would be decided. After a fair catch or a decided fumble of same, First drawn 10 to go comes up for the successful si e.

The 5 yard penalties have full value in all parts of the field, except that. in no case are they allowed to put the ball on or behind the goal lines. In this game, as on the field, a penality'which should-apparentlyput the ball on or behind a goalline is arbitrarily cut down in value to put the ball on the one yard line. In the game on the field, further penalties are applied by having the distance to the goal line. In every case .of penalty against the offensive (except in running back a punt or running back attempt at field goal which fell short) the offensive starts after the penalty with the same numbered down as before the ap lication of the penalty but with the added ista-nce of the enalty to go. All enalties in favor of the o ensive, bring up First down 10 to go for the offensive A after the penalty has been applied, in its favor. 7

All penalti s of greater value than'five yards each h ve been arbitrarily removed from this game as all heavier enalties are more or less an unsportsma'nli e reflection on the side against which they are applied on the field. They mar the game on the field, and would do the same thing if allowed in this game. It is fair and proper that the heavier penalties be removed from this game I and. allow it to play onl clean football. Five yard penalties are a most always the result of eagerness on the field and cast no reflection.

In case.of an off side kick-off (second zone) another attempt is made but with the ball on kickers forty-five yard line instead of thefifty yard line. If another ofl' side kick-ofl? comes up, the ball shall goto the receiving'side which shall put it on its' own forty to go p v A fumbled run back of kick-ofi is decided like a fumbled running lay, (fourth zone) yard line and start First down- 10 reference being made to t e twenty yard line t as to the value (that is whole or half value) to be applied.

At any time the dial stops on a line read the next section in a clockwise direction.

A practice of short duration'will make all of the foregoing plain and easy to remember andwillnot prove to'be complicated even for one not at all versed in, the game of football as played on the field. I The material necessary to play the game are the dial and values as 'ven, a drawin of a regulation gridiron with the five yar lines marked out and with holes between the five yard lines to indicate one yard spaces (fractions never come up) and two sticks to mark the place where the ofiensive. starts I from and the distance to be made to produce first down. One of these sticks has a cube on it, the four sides (omitting the top and bottom sides through which the stick goes) are numbered 1, 2, 3 and l and the number of the down coming up is turned to ward the field by the defensive side for the information of the offensive side. It also marks the actual position of the ball. Two pins may be also used in lieu of the sticks.

In playing this game, some few situa tions such as kick off, run back of kick-off, etc, of course leave no option as to what must be done but nearly all of the situations allow choice to the offensive as to the method of attack and give a control of the game practically like that of the quarterback on the actual field of play.

Special rules may be made by the players such as playing until one side scores without regard to time and calling it a game, or play:

ing until one side gets ten or more points, etc. It may be played by several on a side, the majority to decide the method of attack and the captain or quarterback to break all ties if the side has an even number of players. Also it may be played solitaire with interest. It may be played by those with a knowledge of football-as played on the field, or it will help those without any such knowledge to a greater appreciation of the game on the field. It can also be played with pleasure as a game entirely in itself without reference to any other game.

I claim as my invention,

1. In a game apparatus of the kinddescribed, a representation of a football field, a base having a bearin a supporting bar supported on and extending across said base and having a bearing, a rotary disc, an axle supporting said disc and seated in said bearings, a pointer supported on said supporting bar, and indicia on the disc expressing football game values, substantially as described.

2. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of a football field, a base having a bearing, a supporting bar supported on and extending across said base and having a bearing, a rotary disc, an'axle supporting said disc and seated in said bearings, a pointer shiftably supported on said supporting bar, and indicia on the disc expressing football game values, substantially as described.

3. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of a football field, a base having a bearing, a supporting bar supported on and extending across said base and having a bearing, a rotary disc, an axle supporting said disc and seated in said bearings, a pointer frictionally supported on said supporting bar, and indicia on the disc expressin football game values, substantially as described.

4. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of a football field,

a base having a bearing, a supporting bar supported on and extending across said base and having a bearing, a rotary disc having said disc and seated on said bearings, a

pointer supported on said supporting bar, and indicia on the disc expressing football values, substantially as described.

6 In a game apparatus of the kind descr1bed,'a representation of a football field,

a base having a bearing, a supporting bar supported on and extending across said base, a screw bearing in said supporting bar, a rotary disc, an axle supporting said disc and seated in said bearings, a pointer supported on said supporting bar, and indicia on the disc expressing football game values, substantially as described.

7. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of a football field, a base having a bearin a supportin bar supported on and exten ing across sai base and having a bearing, a rotary disc, an axle supporting said disc and seated in said bearings, a pointer structure supported'on said bar and comprising a pointer and jaws and a spring, and indicia on the disc expressing;

football scribed.

8. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of a football field,

game values, substantially as dea base, a disc supported on said base for.

rotation, indicia on thedisc expressing football game values, a pointer structure sup-' ported by said base and extending over sald disc, and a pointer shiftable on said structure relative to the axis of rotation, substantially as described.

9. In a game apparatus of the kind described a representation of a football field a circular play diagram and a pointer, sai diagram and said pointer being relatively. rotatable and .the pointer being shiftab'le relative to the axis of rotation, and said diagram consisting of concentric circles between which are annular sectional play zones bearing indicia identifyingthe zones and bearing other indicia distributed around the zones and indicating play values or re-,

sults of play, substantially as described.

-10. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of a football field a circular play diagram and a pointer, sai

diagram and said pointer being relatively rotatable and said diagram consisting of concentric circles between which are annular sectional play zones bearing indicia identifying the zones and bearing other indicia. distributed around the zones and indicating play values or results of play, the sections of the outer of said zones which bear numerical values each bearing indicia expressing two such values, the two in each section bearing to each other the same ratio as the two in other sections bear to each other, substantially as described.

11. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of a football field, a circular play diagram and a pointer, said diagram and said pointer being relatively rotatable and the pointer being shiftable relative to the axis of rotation, and said diagram consisting of concentric circles between which are. annular sectional play zones bearing indicia identifying the zones and bearing other indicia distributed around the zones and indicating lay values or re-, sults of play, the outer oi said zones which bear numerical values each bearing indicia expressing two values being a multiple of the other, substantially as described.

12. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a representation of 'a footballfield,

such values, one of, said a circular play diagram and a pointer, said diagram and said pointer being relatively rotatable and the pointer being shiftable relative to the axis of rotation, and said diagram consisting of concentric circles between which are annular sectional play zones bearing indicia identifying the zones and bearing other indicia distributed around the zones and indicating play values or results of play, the sections of the outer of said zones which bear numerical values each bearing indicia consisting in part of two whole numbers, one of which is a multiple of the other, substantially as described.

13. In a game apparatus of the'kind described, a representation of a, football field, a circular play diagram and a pointer, said diagram and said pointer being relatively rotatable and the pointer being shiftable relative to the axis of rotation, and said diagram consisting of concentric circles between which are annular sectional play zones bearing indicia identifying'a zone for a plurality of purposes and indicating the same values for those purposes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name, this lfithdayof April, in the year one vthousand nine hundred and twentyfour.

' THOMAS GREEN. 

